Thailand Live Wednesday 17 Dec 2014

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Outstanding news for the lady suffering from terminal cancer who wishes to end her days in Samui

KOH SAMUI: -- After the Samui Times brought the plight of a German lady suffering from terminal cancer to the attention of our community we have been inundated with offers of help.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783609-help-needed-for-a-terminally-ill-lady-who-wishes-to-spend-her-few-remaining-days-in-samui/#entry8815400

[webfact]

PM: Thailand needs push in science and technology

BANGKOK, 17 December 2014 (NNT) – The Prime Minister of Thailand presided over the opening of the science fair, stating that Thailand needs the development in science, technology, and innovations to raise the nation’s competitiveness on the global stage.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784858-pm-prayut-thailand-needs-push-in-science-and-technology/

[webfact]

Prayut expresses condolences to Australia over fatal Sydney cafe siege

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed his condolences to his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott over a fatal café siege in Sydney early this week.

In his letter to Abbot, Prayut said he and Thais felt sorry for the families of the two slain victims and would like to extend deep condolences to the families.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Prayut-expresses-condolences-to-Australia-over-fat-30250043.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-17

[webfact]

Thai junta vows to 'hunt' fugitive lese majeste suspects

Bangkok, Thailand | AFP |

The Thai junta on Wednesday said it will "hunt" fugitives wanted under the kingdom's strict royal defamation law, vowing to press foreign governments to hand over suspects seeking sanctuary abroad.

Rights groups say cases breaching Article 112 of the penal code -- which protects the monarchy from criticism -- have surged since the May coup, as the military burnishes its reputation as the defender of the royal family.

Junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha, who is also prime minister, has said scores of people are living outside the country to evade legal processes including charges of lese majeste -- each count of which carries up to 15 years in jail.

On Wednesday one of his deputies said Thailand will contact the countries they have fled to -- without naming the nations.

Lese majeste suspects are known to be in France and the United Kingdom among other nations.

"We will hunt and arrest all of these suspects," Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters.

"We want to explain to foreign countries that these people have breached an article of Thai law that qualifies them for extradition," Prawit, who is also defence minister, added.

"We focus on violators of Article 112 because these people have a bad attitude towards the monarchy," he said, adding that the "issue is crucial".

Prawit said Thai officials are also searching for those responsible for a rumour that caused the Thai stock market to tank nine percent in early trading on Monday.

His boss, Prime Minister Prayut, on Tuesday said false rumours about the health of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulaydej, 87, were behind the slump, which corrected itself by the close of trading.

On Monday the palace issued a statement saying his overall health was improving.

Critics say the lese majeste law is increasingly targeting political opponents of the royalist Bangkok-based establishment, who broadly supported Prayut's power grab from an elected government in May.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-12-17

[webfact]

UPDATE:

'High Russian' Suspect Stabs Policeman While In Custody

By Khaosod English

MAE HONG SON — One of the two Russian men who were arrested for breaking into a temple in northern Thailand on Sunday stabbed a police officer while in custody yesterday, police say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784063-high-russians-break-into-temple-dress-as-monks-police/page-5#entry8815630

[webfact]

EU court takes Hamas off terrorist organisations list

(BBC) The General Court of the European Union has annulled the bloc's decision to keep the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on a list of terrorist groups.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784884-eu-court-takes-hamas-off-terrorist-organisations-list/

[webfact]

SET index closed 1,480.02, up 18.28; Bt/USD32.82; GBP51.50; AUD26.61; EUR40.86; CAD28.08; HKD4.22; SGD25.06; JPY27.95

[webfact]

UPDATE:

SURVEY
Bangkok taxi fares lowest in Asia : survey

BANGKOK: -- A survey by an online hotel service provider has found that transport fares in Bangkok are among the lowest compared to other top tourist destinations in Asia.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/783545-thai-transport-ministry-announces-new-cab-fare-rates/page-2#entry8815731

[webfact]

Army chief: No link between Pakistani, Thai insurgencies
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 17 -- Thai Army chief Gen Udomdej Sitabutr said that the deadly attack at an army-run school in Pakistan that killed more than 100 students is not linked to the insurgent violence in Thailand’s southern border provinces.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784889-army-chief-no-link-between-pakistani-thai-insurgencies/

[webfact]

Thailand begins exporting pork to Russia
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Dec 17 -- Thailand has exported 48 tonnes of fresh pork to Russia, the first shipment of Thai pork to the Russian market.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784891-thailand-begins-exporting-pork-to-russia/

[webfact]

NGV price hike inevitable

BANGKOK, 17 December 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Energy are showing signs of an NGV price increase but remains unclear how much the gas price will hike.

Minister of Energy Narongchai Akkharaserani said after the Cabinet meeting this week that the ministry would not levy an excise tax on the NGV soon. However, it was necessary for the ministry to imply a gas price increase since the NGV was fuel used in the transport sector, the minister said.

The ministry was trying to bring the NGV price to meet up with its cost of 15-16 baht a kilo since the current price was just 12 baht a kilo, Mr Narongchai added.

The Cabinet on 16 December 2014 approved a 2.50-baht/liter increase in diesel excise tax, making the levy reach 3.25 baht a liter.


-- NNT 2014-12-17

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Smartphones dominate Google searches in Thailand

This year’s Google Year in Search has revealed some very interesting results for the way that we search, on a range of topics such as News, Politics, Technology and Sport.

We’ve already covered the top 10 global results in this article, but we thought it would be interesting to take a look at the consumer electronics space (after all, this is a tech site!).

Read more: http://tech.thaivisa.com/google-trends-2014-thailand/

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Near miss for PM Prayuth as falling tree hits motorcycle escort
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 17 -- Two Army soldiers were slightly injured this morning when a large branch fell onto the motorcade of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-o-cha in Sukhumvit Road.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784808-fallen-tree-narrowly-misses-prayuths-car/page-2?p=8815825#entry8815825

[webfact]

MARKETS
Thai shares stop bleeding
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- After a 7-day losing streak, the Stock Exchange of Thailand ended the bleeding today with a slight gain of 1.26 per cent.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784894-thai-shares-stop-bleeding/

[webfact]

Taxi driver returns wallet with Bt67,000 in cash to Russian

BANGKOK: -- A taxi driver Wednesday returned a wallet with cash in several currencies worth Bt67,400 to its Russian owner.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784896-bangkok-taxi-driver-returns-wallet-with-bt67000-in-cash-to-russian/

[george]

URGENT:
Bangkok: "O" blood needed urgently

Please help if you can: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784892-o-blood-needed-urgently/

[george]

Pattaya's return of the breakfast show on Fabulous 103FM LIVE

Film of the very first Live show in Fab 103 after 7 months off air in Thailand.. with Tommy Dee, ZhaZha and Goldfinger

Watch video: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784920-pattayas-return-of-the-breakfast-show-on-fabulous-103fm-live/

[Lite Beer]

Former Thai Princess Asks Media For Privacy

By Khaosod Eng.

BANGKOK — The wife of Thailand’s Crown Prince has asked reporters camped outside her home to respect her privacy following her resignation from the Royal Family last week.

After giving up her royal status on 12 December, Srirasmi Suwadee, formerly known as Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasmi, moved out of the Crown Prince's palace to live with her parents at their residence in Ratchaburi province. She has not been since in public since 13 December.

Today a police officer emerged from Srirasmi's residence and posted a letter that appears to have been handwritten by the former princess.

The brief note read:

I'd like to thank all of the reporters for taking kind interest and closely following [me]. But I'd like to ask for your compassion: at this moment I only want to practice Dharma quietly with my family in this house in a peaceful manner.

Srirasmi

17 Dec 57

Monks have been seen entering Srirasmi's residence in recent days, presumably to conduct religious ceremonies hosted by her family.

Yesterday, Pol.Lt.Col. Thanongsak Kaewpolnoi, superintendent of Wat Pleng Police Station, asked reporters camping outside Srirasmi’s house not to disturb the former princess.

"[srirasmi] is now a commoner, we treat her like any other ordinary citizen. There is no special treatment," said Pol.Lt.Col. Thanongsak. "But many reporters have come to cover the news, so my commander has instructed me to maintain order because sometimes they disturb the area by her house. She doesn't want to be disturbed."

Several relatives of Srirasmi came to visit her yesterday, but entered through a side door as the main gate remains locked.

Read More: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1418821912

-- Khaosod English 2014-12-17

[Lite Beer]

Russian 'Temple Intruder' Stabs Policeman While In Custody

By Khaosod Eng.

MAE HONG SON — One of the two Russian men who were arrested for breaking into a temple in northern Thailand on Sunday stabbed a police officer while in custody yesterday, police say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784928-russian-temple-intruder-stabs-policeman-while-in-custody/

[webfact]

to continue:

Thailand Live Thursday 18 Dec 2014

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784979-thailand-live-thursday-18-dec-2014/